Overview
- A 16‑year‑old Grade 9 student opened fire after lunch at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, injuring eight classmates before killing himself, leaving three students dead in total.
- Local officials reported four of the eight wounded are in critical condition and all victims are between 14 and 17 years old.
- Police and cybercrime units are investigating how the shooter obtained the firearm, which authorities say was a 9‑mm pistol taken from a vault belonging to his father who works for the Department of Education.
- Investigators are examining the suspect's online activity for posts tied to true‑crime groups as they search for motive and any wider online influence on the attack.
- The Department of Education has suspended classes in Banga, deployed medical and mental‑health support, and provincial leaders have urged stricter secure storage of firearms and cooperation with the ongoing probe.